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Eva Mendes attends the "La dolce vita" world restoration premiere during The 5th International Rome Film Festival on October 30, 2010 in Rome, Italy© Getty

Eva Mendes reflects on bittersweet Christmas for family with Ryan Gosling in rare home photo

The Hitch actress, who shares two daughters with the Barbie actor, sparked a reaction from fans over her heartfelt photo

Beatriz Colon
Beatriz Colon - New York
New York WriterNew York
December 12, 2023
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Eva Mendes is reflecting on both the merry and emotional memories that the holiday season can conjure up.

Though the Hitch actress, 49, is notoriously private when it comes to her own family with Ryan Gosling and their two daughters, Esmeralda Amada, eight, and Amada Lee, seven, her fans are familiar with her occasional tributes to her mom, Eva Pérez Suarez, dad, Juan Carlos Méndez, and her siblings.

Her latest, in which she reflected on what Christmas was like for her growing up, left her receiving countless encouraging messages from fans as she remembered her late brother Juan Carlos Méndez Jr., who passed away in 2016 aged 53 after a battle with cancer.

WATCH: Eva Mendes gives candid take on motherhood in at-home video

Eva took to Instagram Tuesday and shared a throwback photo of herself celebrating Christmas as a kid, looking happy as can be posing next to a festive Christmas tree, surrounded by gifts like baby dolls, a Barbie toy house, and more. 

"Little me in the 80's at Christmas," she wrote in her caption, adding: "We were paycheck to paycheck  – at best – but my Mami always went all out for me on Xmas morning."

The mom-of-two, who also grew up with older sister Janet Mendes as well as a younger paternal half-brother, Carlo Méndez, added: "My older siblings were also part of the magic."

View post on Instagram
 

She continued: "Since they were way beyond their Santa years then, when I look back now, I realize how they all did their part in making it magical for me," endearingly noting: "I'm so grateful."

MORE: Why Eva Mendes kept Ryan Gosling marriage secret for years after 'very boring' milestone confession

MORE: Eva Mendes shares glam photo as she enjoys playground date alongside daughters with Ryan Gosling

"I miss my brother," she then said, before recalling: "The last Christmas I had with him was a few years ago when he did something only a big brother could do."

Photo shared by Eva Mendes on Instagram November 6 2023 where she is posing next to her mom Eva Pérez Suarez as they celebrated her 82nd birthday© Instagram
Eva shared a rare photo alongside her mom in November when celebrating her 82nd birthday

Adding that she would "leave that sweet story for another post," she said: "Anyway, I saw this pic this morning and felt like sharing," and concluded with: "Lotsa love."

Her fans were quick to take to the comments section under the post with supportive messages, with one writing: "I lost a brother too – sending you and your family a hug," as others followed suit with: "Beautiful said, same here so grateful for my parents sacrificed," and: "The joy on your face is priceless. The magic of Christmas is like no other," as well as: "So beautiful that you have this memory to cherish and lift you. Keep going."

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling
'The Place Beyond The Pines' film premiere© Rex Images
Eva and Ryan share two daughters together

Eva was born in Miami in 1974, though she was largely raised by her mother in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood after her parents, who both hail from Cuba, divorced.

MORE: Eva Mendes dons red hot dress in cheeky photos from home with Ryan Gosling

Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling at 'The Place Beyond the Pines' film premiere, New York, America - 28 Mar 2013© Dave Allocca/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock
The couple have been together since 2012

Her mother, who recently celebrated her 82nd birthday, lives near where Eva lives with Ryan and their two daughters in a quiet California town away from Los Angeles.

Eva and Ryan have been together since 2011, after they met on the set of their 2012 movie The Place Beyond the Pines. Their first and last major public appearance together was for the film's premiere over a decade ago.

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